The Government: Uusimaa Border to Reopen Today

“The government has decided to revoke the decree concerning the isolation of the Uusimaa region,” Prime Minister Sanna Marin (the SDP) said in a press conference on Wednesday morning.

The border will reopen today, April
15.

The original decree would have extended the isolation until April 19.

The legal grounds for continuing the temporary restrictions on movement are no longer considered to exist. The powers provided under section 118 of the Emergency Powers Act may be exercised only if it is necessary to do so.

In making the decision to lift the restrictions, the government has relied on the assessment of the Ministry of Social Affairs and Health and the Finnish Institute for Health and Welfare concerning the development of the epidemic.

According to the government, when the restrictions of movement to and from the Uusimaa region came into effect on March 28, the coronavirus infections were spreading more rapidly in the Uusimaa region than in the rest of the country.

Currently, most COVID-19 infections
are found in the Uusimaa region but the difference with the rest of the country
has reduced.

However, as the restrictions are
called off, the government is still recommending to avoid unnecessary travel.

“In plain Finnish: Now is not the
right time to travel to the cottage,” said Prime Minister Marin.